South Africa: Lesbian dies after being stabbed with spear

According to the Cape Argus newspaper, Sihle Sikoji, a member of a community group that supports lesbian, bisexual and transgender women who have been sexually assaulted, was stabbed in the chest with a “mini-spear” at the start of last weekend.

The attack occurred on Friday 9 November in a part of Cape Town.

A friend of the deceased told the Cape Argus that it happened as she and Sikoji were walking to a friend’s house, having visited a bar.

They were approached by a group of men from a gang reportedly called “The Vooras”.

The witness said: “One of them pulled out a mini-spear with a long blade and stabbed Sikoji once in the chest. She fell to the floor.”

The friend tried to intervene but was stabbed in an arm. She spoke of how she held Sikoji in her arms for more than two hours while waiting for an ambulance.

He said no arrests had been made and the motive for the murder was still unknown.

A murder investigation is now underway.

A month ago, Sikoji’s friend, was reportedly raped at gunpoint in the same area.

In October, Amnesty International stated how LGBT citizens were now at greater risk of attacks in South Africa’s rural townships, despite the country being seen by many as a safe LGBT haven compared to other African nations.